Transmission mechanism



Feb, M1, 1939. A. 1'.. BERGER 2,146,717

TRANSMISSION MECHANI SM original Filed April 1, 1933 i I l n n l Pnfenicd Feb. 14, 1939 l y .2,146,717

UNIT-isi)` sTATEs PATENT fol-FICE original application April 1, 193s,y serial No. 663,951. mvieea nini eine application February 12, 193s, scrinlNc. casse n 11 Claims. (Cl. 192-58) (Granted under the act of-Marell 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 751) The invention described herein may be manument of parts,.an example of which is given in factured and used by or for the Government for this specification and illustrated in the accomgovernmental purposes, without the payment to panying drawing wherein: me of any royalty thereon. Fig. 1 is an end view of apresent preferred The present invention relates generally to embodiment of my invention;

transmissions capable of use in automobiles, air- Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 craft or other vehicles and more particularly to of Fig. l; and improved means for regulating 'and controlling Fig- 3 is a Sectional view taken on the line 3 3 the speed of a supercharger to compensate for f Fig. 2. changes in atmospheric pressure. The present Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the l invention is a division of my copending applicamanner of operation and methodv of control of tion Serial No. 663,951, led by myself inthe the invention. y UnitedStates Patent Oice April 1, 1933. Referring more particularly to the drawing The primary object of the present invention wherein corresponding parts are designated by is to provide means whereby the speed of the like numerals throughout the several views, the .u transmission may be made variable in desired transmission mechanism, which may be comdegrees of the driven element with respect to a pared to a variable clutch mechanism or the like, constantly operated driving element. comprises generally a xed housing I0' provided A further object of this invention is to provide on its one side with an enlarged bearing portion 50 a transmission mechanism capable of iniinite II and on its opposite side with a second bearing 20 speed ratio,'and one wherein such speed ratio portion designated by the numeral I2.y The numay be automatically adjusted to the operating meral I3 designates a hollow shaft whichis jourrequirements. i naled in the bearingportion II and which ex- A still further object ofthe present invention tends into the housing I0, as shown in Fig.' 2.

g5 is to provide in a transmission mechanism of this A cap screw I4 or the like may be used to close 25 character an arrangement of parts which makes the outer open end of the shaft I3. A circular unnecessary the use of gearing. or the like, fricdisc, indicated by the numeral I5, of substantial tion clutches, or friction discs as a driving medithickness is integrally formed on the inner end um between the prime mover and the driven of the shaft I3 near'its center. This disc, which member. i -is located inside the limits of the housing I0, has 30 A still further object of the present invention a, plurality of evenly spaced apart, radially exis to provide a transmission mechanism in which tending slotsv I6 formed in the outer` portion of the flow of a uid is used as the driving medium its periphery.l The numeral I1 designates a vane between the driven and the driving member. which is slidably mounted in each of the slots I6,

A further object of the present invention is to as shown in Fig. 3. These vanes have a width a5 provide a transmission mechanism in which slidsimilar to the width of the rotor or disc I5 and ing contact is obtained between the movingparts each has an engaging pointed head I8 which thereby reducing to a minimum the possible wear extends outwardly and forwardly in the direcof the component partsin service operation. .tion of rotation of the disc I5. The numeral 40 A still further object of the present invention I! designates a cut-away portion in the periph. o is the provision of a' device of this character ery of the disc I5 adjacent eaclrof the slots I6 which may be cheaply constructed, readily asto accommodate the head' I8 when the vanes are sembled and installed and which may be opermoved to their extreme inward movement when ated with a minimum expenditure of power. sliding toward the center of the disc` I5.

The invention maybe embodied to comprehend The numeral 20 designates a passageway ex- 45 a mechanism in which some of the elements opertending completely through and parallel to the ate relative to the others and relatively to an 1ongitudin'al axis of each of the vanes i1. The enclosing Stlutul'e t0 accomplish transmission' outlet of each of these passagways is immediof water, oil, or other fluid medium thereateiy rearward of a head 2l. The numeral 2| through and to impel the same with a force dedesignates passageways in the disc I5 which con- 50 pendent entirely upon the relative speed ofthe nects at the bottom of each slot I6 with the inoperating parts. side 'of the shaft I3. The bearing portion Il,

.With the above and other objects in view, the, heretoforementioned, is provided with a trans invention has particular relation to certain novel versely extending threaded opening 22 which 5a features of construction, operation and arrangeis adapted for communication with' and is sealed u at its outer end by a liquid pipe 23, the latter being adapted for connection with a source of variable :fluid pressure. The numeral 24 designates a plurality of radial passageways which are I 5 and then through the passageways 2i) toward the periphery of the disc I5 rearwardly of the heads I8. The numeral 25 designates a driven shaft 'that is journaled in the bearing portion I2 heretoforementioned and which extends into the housing I3. This shaft is provided at its innerend with a bearing portion 25 which centers on and is supported by a lug 21 formed on the inner end ofthe disc I5. A plate, indicated by the numeral 28, is integrally formed on the inner end portion of the shaft 25. This plate is disposed within the inner limits of the housing I8 in the manner illustrated in Fig. 2. A second plate, indicated by the numeral 29, is rotatably mounted on the shaft I3 and opposes the plate 28 mentioned above. The two plates 28 and 29 are positioned on each side of the rotor or disc and constitute side walls for said disc. The n meral 38' designates a ring which loosely embraces the rotor or disc I5 and is positioned iny -termediate the plates 28 and 25. This ring is rigidly secured to the plates 28 and 28 by a plurality of radially disposed bolts 3| and forms with said plates a housing for thev disc I5. The numeral 32 designates a plurality of equally spaced- .apart, raised or camming portions which are formed on the inner surface of the ring 30. Each camming portion extends inwardly an amount sufcient to contact rwith the periphery of the disc I5. When the shaft I3, which obviously may be operatively connected to the crankshaft of an internal combustion engine or 'any otherlsource of motive power, is rotated, the vanesil will be moved outwardly by centrifugal force and the heads I8 slidably engage and move along the inner surface of the ring 30. The numeral 33` designates a plurality of passageways which pass through the ring 28. Each of said passageways arepositioned immediately forward of one of ments, said vanes will engage the fluid between the disc I5 and the ring and force it outwardly with respect to the passageways 33 before the vanes reach and are moved inwardly caused by engagement with the camming portion heretoforementioned. As shown in Fig. 2, `the housing I3 is provided with'an outlet 34 to which is operatively connected a return line 35 leading to the source of iluid supply. Obviously, the forcing of the iiuid through the passageways 33, mentioned A above, will createv considerable resistance with the result that the ring 30 will tend to rotate with the disc I5, thereby rotating the driven shaft 25, and, in turn, rotating the part to which this shaft may be operatively connected. The. amount of the resistance set up will be directly proportional to the amount of liquid being forced into the hollow shaft I3; consequently, when only a small amount of liquid enters the shaft I3, the passage 5 of this liquid through the ports 33 heretoforementionedwill be comparatively easy, with the ring 30 yieldingly held from rotation by the power necessary to operate the part to which the shaft 24 is operatively connected. 0n the other hand, 10 with the increasing of the pressure of the liquid entering-the shaft I3, the speed of rotation of the ring 30 will accordingly increase until it approaches the speed of rotation of the disc Il. Obviously, the ultimate speed to be obtained by 15 the driven shaft 24 is dependent entirely upon the prime mover or driving shaft I3 and as long as the speed of the prime mover remains constant, at no time will the speed of the driven shaft be greater thanv the speed of the prime 20 mover. If, however, the speed of 'rotation of the driving shaft is increased, a proportional increase in the speed of the driven shaft can be obtained and thereby provide a transmission which is capable of innite speed ratio, and thus is acz5 complished one of the primary objects of this invention.

Inasmuch as' the fluid under pressure enters at the bottom of the slots heretoforementioned and below the vane, the vanes II, in addition to being so forced outwardly by centrifugal force, will also be forced outwardly bythe pressure of the fluid, which force will increase with the increased pressure 'of the fluid.

Fig. 4 diagrammatically illustrates an arrangement for controlling the speed of rotation of the driven member. This arrangement shows a storage tank 36 from which fluid is supplied to the housing III by means of a pump 38. This pumping unit is suitablyconnected to the drive shaft o I3 to be driven thereby and is communicatively connected to the tank 36 at the bottom thereof through a conduit 31. The output side of this pumping unit vis communicatively connected with the housing'iil .throughthe conduit 23 and to the storage tank through conduit 48, there being provided between said pumping unit and said conduits a two-way valve 38 which may be operated-either manually or by a pressure regulator of the type shown in Patent No. 2,024,202 issued tome on December 17, 1935, to control the ilow same to the storage tank vthrough conduit 43.

yII, will be seen that, if the driving shaft I3 is r0- tated at a given speed and the valve33 partially opened a predetermined amount to establish a certain rate of f low of the fluid through conduit 23 and the ports 33, there will be obtained a proportional 'velocity of the driven shaft 25. If, however, the valve 33 is in vthe full open position as shown in Fig. 4, a greater flow of fluid through the 'ports 33 obtains and the speedcof` rotation of the driven shaft will be increased. Conversely, if the valve 33 is fully closed to shut oif the ow through the conduit 23, no fluid will ilow through theports 33 `and the driven shaft will'not rotate. In this position of the valve, communication is established between the pumpig unit 33 and the storage tank through conduit Obviously, the device hereinabove described -70 may, in many instances, be mounted in or formed as an integral part of an engine crankcase. With such an arrangement the housing Il may be obviously dispensed with.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attending advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction, and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or in sacrificing any of its communication with a source of uid pressure supply for supplying fluid under. pressure into said chambers, a plurality of impellers carried by said disc and adapted to operate in said chambers upon` rotation of said disc and create a current flow of the uid in said chambers, and an outlet orifice associated with each chamber for restricting the current flow of said fluid, the retarding action of said current flow operating to move said housing in the direction of said fluid current andv thereby obtain a movement of said driven member.

2. In adevice of the class described, a rotatably mounted hollow shaft designed to be in communication with a source of fluid pressure, a disc rigidly secured to said shaft, a housing loosely embracing said disc, a second rotatably mounted shaft secured to and'supporting said housing, raised portions inside said housing, radial slots in said disc, a vane slidably mounted ineach of said slots and capable of slidably engaging the inside of said housing and said raised portions, fluid passageways through said housing, and fluid passageways communicating with the inside of said hollow shaft and the periphery of said disc.-

3. In a device of the class described, a rotatably mounted hollow shaft designed to be in communication with a fluid under varying pressures, an element secured to said shaft, a slot in said element, a second shaft, a housing secured to saidsecond shaft and loosely embracing said element, a raised portion inside said housing, a Vane slidably mounted in said slot capable of slidably engaging the inside of said housing and said raised portion, a iiuid passageway extending through said housing and a fluid passageway having one end communicating with i the inside of said. hollow shaft and its other end communicating with the space between said element and said housing.

4. In a device of the class described, a rotatably mounted hollow shaft designed to be in communication with a'fluid under varying pressures, an element secured to said shaft, a slot in said element, av second shaft, a housing secured to said second shaft and loosely embracing said element, a raised portion inside said housing, al -vane slidably mounted in said slot capable of slidably engaging the inside of said housing and said raised portion respectively, a fluid passageway extending through said housing at a point in advance of said raised portion, `and a iiuid passageway having one end communicating with the inside of said hollow shaft and its other end communicating with the space between said element and said housing at a point rearward of4 said vane.

5. In a device of the class described, a rotatably mounted hollow shaft to be driven and designed to be in communication with a source of fluid under pressure, a disc member secured to said shaft, a second rotatably mounted shaft, a housing secured to said second yshaft andl loosely embracing said disc membena plurality of evenly spaced apart, raised portions on the inside of said housing, a plurality of evenly spaced apart, radially extendingslots in the outer portion of said disc member, a vane slidably mounted in cach of said slots capable of slidably engaging the inside of said housing and said raised portions when said hollow shaft is rotated, a passageway in advance of each of said portions and extending through said housing, a passageway communicating with each of said slots and the inside of said hollow shaft, and a second passageway extending completely through each of said vanes.

6. In a device of the class described, a rotatably mounted hollow shaft to be driven and designed to be in communication with a source of fluid under pressure, a disc member secured to said shaft, a second rotatably mounted shaft,

' a housing secured to said second shaft and loosetion of said disc member, a vane slidably mounted in each o'fsaid slots capable of slidably engaging the inside of said housing and said raisedportions when said hollow shaft is rotated, a passagewayin advance of each of said portions and extending through said housing, Aa second passageway communicating with each of vsaid slots and the inside of said hollow shaft, and a passageway extending, completely longitudinally through each of -said vanes and located in the rear side portions of said vanes.

7. In a device of the class described, a rotatably mounted hollow shaft designed to be in communication with a uid under varying pressures, an element secured to, said shaft, a slot in said element, a second shaft, a housing secured to said second shaft and loosely embracing said element,

a raised portion. inside of said housing, a vane slidably mounted in said slot, Aa pointed head member formed on the outer end of said vane extending outwardly and forwardly and capable of slidably engaging the inside of said housing and said raised portions, a uid passageway extending through said housing at a point in close proximity to said 'raised portions, a passageway having one end communicating with the bottom of said slot and the inside of said hollow shaft, and a passageway extending longitudinally through said vane and located to the rear of the pointed end of said head. 1

8. In a device of the classdescribed, a rotatably mounted hollow shaft designed to be in communifcationfwith'a fluid under varying pressures, an

element secured tosaid shaft, a s lot insaid element,- a second shaft, a housing secured to said second shaftand loosely embracing 'said element, a raised portion inside 'said housing, a lvane slidably mounted `in said slot, a'pointed head ymember formed on the outer end of 4'said vane extending outwardlyv and forwardlyY and capable of` slidably engaging the inside of vsaid housing' and said raised portion. a iluid passageway extending through said housing at a point in `close proximity to saldraised portion, a passageway having one end communicating with the bottom of said slot and the inside of said hollow shaft, a passageway extending longitudinally through said vane and located to the rear of the pointed end of said head, and a cut-away portion in said element to provide a space for said head when said vane is moved v10 to an extreme inward position with respectto movement with respect to said working chamber for reslstably displacing fluid through said outlet, means for supplying fluid to said working chamber to obtain a predetermined ratio between the speedof said driving member and the speed of said driven member as a function of the quantity u of fluid supplied to said chamber.

10. In combination with a driving member, a driven member and fluid impelling means lor displacing fiuidto drivingly connect said driving and driven members comprising a working chamber having a fluid inlet and a iiuid outlet and an impeller operative in response to the movement of said driving member and capable of relative movement with respect to said working chamber for resistably displacing iluid through said outlet, means actuated by said driving member for supplying fluid to said working chamber to obtain a predetermined ratio between the speed of said driving member and the speed of member as a function of the quantity of iluid supplied to said chamber.

11. In combination with a driving member, a driven member and iluid impelling means for displacing iiuid to drivingly connect said driving and driven members comprising a working chamber having a` iluid inlet and a fluid outlet and an impeller operative in response to the movement of said driving member 'and capable of relative movement with respect to said working chamber for resistably displacing iluid through said outlet, of variable means for supplying fluid to said working chamber to vary the ratio between the speeds of said driving and driven members as a funcsaid driven tion of a change in the quantity ot nui'd supplied 2 to said chamber.

ADOLPH L. BERGER. 

